African swine fever detected in Southern Cape

Following the laboratory confirmation that African Swine  Fever (ASF) has been detected in Thembalethu, George in the Southern Cape, the Western Cape Department of Agriculture’s State Veterinary Services has served a quarantine notice on pig farmers in the area.

AFS was also detected in  KwaNonqaba outside Mossel Bay earlier this month.

The quarantine notice urges community members and pig farmers not to remove any pigs or pig products from the area to prevent further spreading of the disease.

Minister Meyer urged pig farmers to practise good biosecurity measures to ensure animal health and safety.

Minister Meyer: “Farmers must practise good hygiene management practices on their farms to minimise the risk of disease introduction or spread of the disease through good biosecurity measures.”

Dr Gininda Msiza, Head of Veterinary Services, notes that the only avenue available to protect pigs is by establishing a set of measures to reduce the risk of further spreading the disease.

Msiza: “Carcasses should be disposed of safely, pigs should be confined to prevent roaming and potentially the pick-up and spread of the disease. Hands, shoes, clothing, and equipment must be sanitised before and after contact with pigs, and meat products should be thoroughly cooked before being fed to pigs.”

Meyer continues: “I want to thank those affected farmers for minimising the possible negative impact on trade within the region and sensitising pig farmers in other parts of the Southern Cape. This will help to limit the spread of disease.”

“My department will continue to monitor the situation. In addition, our State Veterinary Services will provide the necessary advisory services to prevent the further spread of the disease,” concluded Meyer.

Source: Government of South Africa